Favorite buys at food markets to bring home from Munich & Salzburg
 

We are leaving for Munich and Salzburg in a few weeks and I enjoy shopping the local food markets and food stores for goodies to bring home. Items such as cookies, candies, seasonings, anything not available in USA or at least alot cheaper in Germany to bring home for ourselves and family. Any suggestions of items to look for or markets to go to would be helpful. Thanks in advance for you suggestions!

In the Victualienmarkt in Munich, there is a butcher shop (I think) that sells the lightweight cotton shopping bags with a picture of Munich on it. I love mine and get lots of comments on it. It was 2 Euro. Approaching the Vic area from Marienplatz it is on the sidewalk on the right side (not a stall IN the market.)

Perfect, Carol Jean....that is the kind of little things and ideas I am searching for. I will purchase a few. Great to give my kids families when we get home full of goodies that I purchased in Germany. Thanks!

Something we once bought in Austria and which has proved hard to find at home since is pumpkin seed oil, a specialty of Styria, which is one of the provinces (Kürbiskernöl aus Steiermark). It is a really nice oil to include in salad dressings, a dark green colour and quite thin. Supposed to be very good for men's health. We first came across it at a ski resort where there was a smorgasbord at night and there was pumpkin seed oil to be drizzled liberally over vegetables. Delicious!

Lavandula

I go to Germany three times a year (soon to be four), and the things I always bring back are:

Loewensenf: A strong mustard; in tube or jar.

Kuehne Mitterscharfe Senf: A milder, everyday but still superb mustard; in tube or squeeze bottle. One squirt makes a satisfying midnight snack.

Hama Curry Ketchup: These suckers are heavy, but it is delicious; I use it for Usingers white bratwurst, or on cornish pasties, though it is great on roasted potatoes too; sprinkle curry powder and or cayenne over it.

Knabber EssPapier: These are flat sheets of wafer in four flavors, found near where the gummi snacks are located in larger mega marts; kids LOVE this stuff. It's bizarre that you can't get anything so delightful & lo-calorie in the US.
http://www.knabbi.de/produkte/knabber-esspapier.html

Ritter Sport Minis: Great little present - - a set of maybe 10 little Ritter Sport flavors in a handy, small package.

CarolJean! A few years ago, I brought back those very same bags from the same stall in the market in Munich (which I love). They were very popular souvenirs. I have no idea what happened to mine and will go look for it as a result of your post. Timely, in this era of using a "sustainable" bag. Thanks!

Just make sure you don't buy anything that is on the "verboten" list of US customs.

Betsy - I have been to Munich many times and had never seen the bags until last May. I keep mine in my purse for those small purchases when I don't have my regular grocery bags.

I also buy the mustard in tubes for my camping son. It is fun to get the different strengths. I also look for a dill pickle in a can for him. The supermarket is the place to buy these at the most inexpensive prices.

Wendie have a great trip! CJ

Terrific ideas you guys! Thanks so much! Keep them coming! Wendie

I always stock up on the Bratkartoffelen mixed spices but make sure it has the fried onion bits in it. Not only is it great sprinkled over oven fried potatoes as they cook, but it works super well as a coating for roast beef or pork or sprinkled over fish filet and some melted butter before baking. A nice addition to soups and stews that need that little something "extra".

Specialty Easter Candy since it looks like you'll be here then. Marzipan Easter eggs are my kids favorites.

Lots of tubes of different types of mustard are a bit hit with family members.

I agree on the mustard but my favorite in Develey Munchner Senf, the sweet mustard they serve with Weisswurst.

The only mustard that is allowed to be eaten with Weisswurst is Haendlmaiers. You'll be mocked big time if you ever serve anything else to your guests.

>>>>>The only mustard that is allowed to be eaten with Weisswurst is Haendlmaiers.

That's the one I bring back (I didn't mention it in my post above because it's rare that anyone in the US has a good supplier for weisswurst - - we have a great one in Madison: Bavaria Sausage Kitchen). Other weisswurst mustards tend to be too austere or vinegary - - Haendlmaiers rules.

We found a lot of goodies at Dallmayr's, and a nice restaurant upstairs.

Dallmayr's reminds me . . . We have beautiful painted tins from there which we keep our coffee beans in. You can buy them with a pound of coffee in them or empty. They also have 1/2 lb. size. They have a rubber seal and wire closure. One of ours is the Marienplatz scene and another (really old) is the Dallmayr store of olden days.

Haribo color-rado candy. I can never find them here. We have a German deli that has everything but them. I love Dallmayr. The smells are wonderful.

I LOVE each and every suggestion! Ok....guess I will bring an extra suitcase home! Good thing my husband will spend his time doing his German beer taste tests while I shop for all these goodies! I have already mapped out Dallmayr's per your advise. I have a son in law who LOVES gummies so Haribo color-rado candy is just the thing not to mention all the other items mentioned here. Thanks again! Keep those great ideas coming! How fun!

Well, if you are going to bring back gummis, the absolute hit among US kids are 'Schnuller' (they are shaped like pacifiers, and come in packs with a nice range of colors & flavors). They don't sell them here in the US, for some strange reason. But US kids go (Lady) gaga (Lady goo goo?) over the pacifier-shaped Haribo gummis named 'Schnuller'.

IMHO, the best lip balm is a German product called "Labello (Lippenpflege)". It comes in different "flavors". I like the plain one in the blue container.

You can get them nowadays on Amazon, but they're much cheaper in Germany.

http://www.amazon.com/Labello-Classi.../dp/B0006PKBLC

Sounds like you're going to need a few steamer trunks to bring all your goodies home! :)

Yes to haribo (the variety here is amazing), kinder eggs (perhaps not previously mentioned? but are they now officially banned from the US?), sweet mustard, labello (i get mine at the dm stores) and vik. totes (found at multiple stands).

we sent our last visitors home with a tin of leberkaese and a jar of sweet mustard from dallmayr's (they sell these packaged together as a gift), and they really liked it!

i also like the various knorr/maggi mixes. lots of varieties.

random tubes of condiments (garlic mayo, ketchup mayo combo, etc).

dm (alnatura) also sells this great chocolate spread. just chocolate. not choc with hazelnut like nutella. my kids like the ovomaltine spread.

great thread! i am going to keep an eye out for the knabbi ess pappier.

There are a few pictures of some of our favorite spice packets souvenirs at this link.
http://www.funtravelandfood.com/2011...-for.html#more
i like the Goulash spice mix and Rham sauce mixes also.

On one trip to Germany, we literally had an extra suitcase to bring home the coffee. We love Germany coffee (Jacobs, Dallmayr,Tchibo) The vacuum-sealed packages are durable for transport.
Also suggest packing some large and extra-large Ziplock bags. If you purchase any liquid items (mustard, honey, etc.), it would be extra insurance for the rest of your luggage during the trip home.

My list is getting longer! Hooray! JJtraveler: I like coffee that is not too strong....not as strong as Starbucks. Are any that you mention above a medium type blend?

Just returned and wanted to thank you all for the wonderful advise! Brought lots of goodies home. Found Munich bags in three differant terrific styles (one in shop on corner near Hofbrauhaus. Huge selection of most everything I was looking for... candies, cookies, mustard and spices at neat underground market near train station, was either Kaufhof or Karstadt. Bought coffee at Dallmayr and went upstairs to drink some as well and could not resist the chocolate cream puff to go with it. If you are going to castle Neuschwanstein don't miss the gift shop near the ticket booths with German Christmas ornaments upstairs, even bought liederhosen (excuse my spelling) there for my teddybear. Also, adorable shops in the quaint little town of Fussen where the train drops you off. By the way, we stayed at Hotel Jedermann in Munich close to train station...great! Thanks again for you help! Wendie